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Carl Zeiss 45mm F2.8, What do these markings mean?
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PostPosted: Fri May 07, 2010 6:42 pm    Post subject: Carl Zeiss 45mm F2.8, What do these markings mean? Reply with quote
I picked up this Zeiss 45mm F 2.8 in C/Y mount but am confused by a couple of markings on this lens (see photo.) The middle aperture mark "F 8" is green and there is a green triangle on the focus scale. I've had a few Zeiss lenses (28, 50, 85mm) , both MM and AE, and don't ever recall seeing a lens with a green F stop other than the highest number to show its an MM lens. Also, none of my other Zeiss lenses have a green triangle on the focus scale. I've searched on line and have not been able to find any photos of lenses with these markings. This is an AE lens since it doesn't have the little tab on the back side of the lens. Thanks for your help.




PostPosted: Fri May 07, 2010 7:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Make the two green signs collime, and you have the lens set to hyperfocal (i.e. where nearly everything is in focus).

A legacy of old time photography that found it's way properly in this sort of nostalgia lens Wink

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PostPosted: Fri May 07, 2010 7:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Orio wrote:
Make the two green signs collime, and you have the lens set to hyperfocal (i.e. where nearly everything is in focus).


Seems strange if this is really the intended meaning; the depth of field scale shows DoF at f/8 ranging from about 2.2 meters to 10 meters when focus is at the green mark (as pictured above). So if this intended as the hyperfocal distance, the criterion used to calculate it is different than for the DoF scale printed on the same lens…

Of course, this green mark might be intended as some sort of carefree “f/8 and be there” setting for less demanding photographers, while Zeiss has a reputation of calculating DoF scales with relatively strict criteria in general.


PostPosted: Fri May 07, 2010 7:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Orio wrote:
Make the two green signs collime, and you have the lens set to hyperfocal (i.e. where nearly everything is in focus).

A legacy of old time photography that found it's way properly in this sort of nostalgia lens Wink

_


Thanks for your reply. I was surprised by the markings because I never had these on my other CZ lenses. Also, with MM lenses the green marking has a different meaning.


PostPosted: Fri May 07, 2010 8:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
mike_in_nyc wrote:
Orio wrote:
Make the two green signs collime, and you have the lens set to hyperfocal (i.e. where nearly everything is in focus).

A legacy of old time photography that found it's way properly in this sort of nostalgia lens Wink

_


Thanks for your reply. I was surprised by the markings because I never had these on my other CZ lenses. Also, with MM lenses the green marking has a different meaning.


You have to go further back in time, such as on pre-war Zeiss-Ikon folding cameras like Ikonta, Nettar etc, to see the same kind of markings, then called "two-point setting". A red dot is found on the aperture scale, and another one on the focussing scale; set both against the index mark and everything beyond 12' would be considered as within depth of field. Just adjust shutter speed to control exposure.
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